As the white stone—the false infant Cronus had swallowed—splashed into the acid pond, it disturbed the silence of the deep.
Hestia, Hera, Demeter, and Poseidon turned their heads in shock, eyes wide as they witnessed the unnatural ripple spreading through the corrosive abyss.
But only one among them remained calm: Hades, the God of Secrets, for he had known all along.
He had watched the deception unfold. He had seen Rhea's pain, Gaea's gift, and the false victory of Cronus.
And now, with fate's gears turning, the time had come.
From the depths of the acid pond, where divine energy had been both forged and tortured for years, a deep, inhuman roar erupted—a cry of rebirth, of dominion, of vengeance.
The surface split apart as Hades emerged, his form like that of a mythic beast risen from slumber beneath the abyss.
His wings spread wide, towering and immense, each feather sharpened like obsidian blades forged in the flames of war.
His body was tall and athletic, no longer that of a child. His horns curved slightly, his eyes a deep violet glowing in contrast to the void-black sclera. He was no longer simply a god.
Seeing this figure rise like a monster from a nightmare, Poseidon, still young but full of inherited strength, immediately stepped into a battle stance.
Divine water circled around him, swirling like a coiled serpent. His instincts screamed—this creature born from the deepest darkness was a primal danger he had never felt before.
But before tension could spark into a tragic clash,
Hestia stepped forward, arms outstretched, her presence like the calming flame of a hearth in a winter storm.
"Stop! Calm yourself, Poseidon!" she said. "This is no monster... this is your brother."
She turned to the others, her voice firm but warm.
"This is Hades, our eldest… brother."
Poseidon's stance eased, confusion flickering in his sea-green eyes.
Demeter and Hera stared in awe, barely recognizing this form.
And Hades… his voice low, calm, and heavy with restrained power, spoke for the first time in years.
As Hades stepped fully out of the burning acid pond, his obsidian-black wings still dripping and steaming, his gaze turned toward the presence that had readied to battle him just moments before—his younger brother.
He paused.
His eyes, sharp and cold from years of hardship, softened just slightly at what he saw.
Poseidon, once just a divine spark in Cronus's belly, had grown into a proud warrior.
His dark blue hair fell in gentle waves across his face, catching the faint glow of divine light. His sapphire eyes, calm yet fierce, stared back with the wildness of the seas and the pride of a god who had claimed his path. His features were strikingly handsome, carrying both the nobility of the Titans and the boldness of untamed waters.
But Hades was impressed by his power.
He's already reached the strength of a High-Level God… Hades thought, his eyes narrowing. But… he's still weaker than me.
There was no arrogance in the thought, just the quiet recognition of how far Hades had pushed his body, mind, and soul into the abyss.
Then Hades turned his gaze to his sisters.
For a moment, even he who had long buried emotions under cold resolve felt a twinge of awe.
They had all grown.
Hestia, his eternal flame, now radiated maturity and calm power. Her once soft features had become refined, her eyes glowing like sacred embers. Her presence gave warmth even amidst the acid—a true Goddess of the Hearth, now standing proudly as a Mid-Level God.
Demeter, the blonde girl who once trembled and hid behind Hestia, now stood tall with golden hair flowing like ripe wheat fields, and green eyes that shimmered with life and command. Her aura pulsed with fertility and growth, her strength honed and cultivated like her domain.
Hera, regal and composed, carried herself with authority. Her violet eyes gleamed with judgment and resolve. Draped in divine fabrics, she already bore the air of a queen. The Goddess of Marriage and Order had also risen to the level of a Mid-Level God, her power sharp, focused, and unwavering.
Each of them had suffered, but none of them had broken.
They had endured imprisonment… And they had forged strength from pain.
Hades smiled brightly and, like a gentleman, bowed slightly. "Nice to meet you, everyone. I am Hades, your eldest brother."
He was smiling and friendly, but the others saw a devilish smile. His aura magnified further, making him appear as an evil god.
"Oh! I forgot, I have something important to tell you." Hades tried to act more clumsily and friendlier so his siblings might come closer. But whatever he did, it only backfired.
Hades turned a little serious as he himself grew a little tired with the act; he said in his original cold tone, "Our youngest brother has been born; his name is Zeus, and he will become the key to our escape. As for how he will do it, just leave it to fate. For now, train your divinity and skills."
Then Hades looked at everyone's confused and dumb faces. Sigh. "I am the god of secrets; I have a nearly omniscient ability. Nothing can be hidden from my eyes."
Hera and Demeter placed their hands on their chests. Nothing. And they looked at him with disgust, as if they were seeing a pervert who even announced his evil deeds publicly.
Hades, aware of his siblings' thoughts and emotions, did not try to clarify or provide evidence of his innocence. He just accepted it, as he knew whatever he told and clarified would only fuel the flame.
After that, he walked to a corner and meditated, enclosing other secrets the world had hidden.
Hestia looked at the whole scene from the corner and placed her hand on her face in trouble. What do I do about them? One side keeps fueling the fire while extinguishing it. On the other side, misunderstandings keep piling up. Both sides are difficult to pursue.
Poseidon came toward Hestia and asked, "Sister Hestia, why is my oldest brother stronger than I am even when we are both at the same stage?"
Hestia looked at his raging eyes. "Hades masters twelve divinities—meaning all his divinities have reached high-level divinity, whereas you master six divinities. So, you are weaker. But after high-level divinity, you need profound knowledge about each divinity. So, in that case, you will grow faster."
Poseidon's eyes widened, and he murmured, Twelve divinities. With determination, he intensified his training and went to another corner of the cave, started swinging his ice trident while hovering the water into different shapes.
Now, with the birth of Zeus, the time of waiting was ending. The seeds had sprouted, and soon, revolt would begin.